BLOG #3: THE FINAL POST

Your fourth and final blog post is due this coming TUESDAY, JUNE 4TH at 11:59 pm.

As you  prepare your final blog, consider the three theoretical perspectives we have worked with in class: symbolic interactionism, functionalism, and conflict theory.

For your final post, choose one or two theories, and use them to help explain either your final project topic or some emerging trend:
1) Race (e.g. why are people racist? why did two groups clash the way they did in history?)
2) Education (e.g. why do people pursue higher education?)
3) Religion (e.g. why are so many people religious? why do religions differ in their dogma?)
4) Technology (e.g. how did the internet/facebook/cell phone impact society?)

Let's review the theories once again...

1) Symbolic Interactionism: this perspective examines the meanings behind behavior. So, if you wish to explain why someone acts the way they do, or why a politician made a certain decision, you would look at what it means to the person and the society.  For example, American teen girls are more likely to have eating disorders than in other countries--a symbolic interactionist would explain this statistic by saying to be thin means to be beautiful and healthy and desirable in America as we learn on tv and in the media. So girls are starving themselves to achieve these social goals.

2) Functionalism: this perspective focuses on how social institutions impact each other, and how behaviors are functional or dysfunctional for groups and societies.  If there is a sharp increase in drunk driving around colleges, a functionalist might say that the way higher education is set up so that more socializing occurs and parental control is minimized, there may be more delinquent drinking behavior. A functionalist would say that college kids drink a lot at parties because it provides a function of reducing social anxiety and helping people socialize. A functionalist might find out if the campus allows alcohol or not. If it does not, they might speculate that the increase in drunk driving is due to the fact that students have to leave to drink.

3) Conflict Theory: the last perspective focuses on groups competing for power and resources. All throughout history groups have come into contact and clashed. A conflict theorist explains behaviors through the lens of one group benefiting and another losing, thus the dominant group will make decisions to maintain their social power. Conflict theorists might analyze why poorer kids go to jail/detention more often than richer kids who report the same levels of delinquency. A conflict theorist might suggest that police and politicians tend to target disadvantaged populations and be easier on upper class kids in order to maintain the social structure in which upward mobility is reserved for the rich.

Attempt to do some research so that you have something to back up your suggestion of how theory is applied!! Try to consider how each theory you sketch out could be tested with data. Remember, that is the purpose of theory--to guide and apply research.